A research problem is a definite or clear expression [statement] about:

- an area of concern
- a condition to be improved upon
- a difficulty to be eliminated
- or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or
within existing practice that points to a need for meaningful
understanding and deliberate investigation.

A research problem does not:  How can the community be

- state how to do something involved in the planning process?
- offer a vague or broad proposition
 Should the free tuition policy in
- or present a value question
UP be changed?

Alan Bryman  What is the correlation between

crime rate and proximity to low-
income settlements?
For a problem statement to be effective in the planning of
applied research it should have the following characteristics:

- The problem reflects felt needs

- The problem is non-hypothetical, ie it must be based on
factual evidence
- It should suggest meaningful and testable hypotheses -
to avoid answers that are of little or no use to the
alleviation of the problem
- The problems should be relevant and manageable

Andrew and Hildebrand, 1982

“The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its
solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or
experimental skill. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to
regard old problems from a new angle requires creative
imagination and marks real advances in science.”

Albert Einstein
A research problem is one or more inquiries to be answered
empirically by factual investigation.
-What might have happened if the Jai-Alai Building was not
demolished?
-What happens during a near-death experience?

Every research problem subsumes two important pieces of

information : the precise objectives of the investigation and the
study content.
 How can the urban form of Eastwood City be
regulated to address safety issues for call A research problem is one

center agents? or more inquiries to be

answered empirically by
factual investigation.
 What are the criteria for monitoring and
evaluating the liveability of high rise
Every research problem
residential condominium buildings in Ortigas
subsumes two important
Center?
pieces of information :
the precise objectives of the
 What are the safety issues for integrating
investigation and the study
solar farms with residential subdivision
content.
developments?
 A research problem is one
or more inquiries to be
 How can the Maranao’s land management system answered empirically by
figure in the rehabilitation of Marawi’s civic center? factual investigation.

 How could 3D printed buildings be mainstreamed Every research problem

into the architecture design practice in the subsumes two important
Philippines? pieces of information :
the precise objectives of the
investigation and the study
content.
 How do plantscaping elements affect the
walkability index of streets in a university A research problem is one
setting? or more inquiries to be
answered empirically by
 How does a studio classroom’s cooling system factual investigation.
relate with absenteeism in UP College of
Architecture? Every research problem
subsumes two important
 Is there a positive correlation between level of pieces of information :
billboard presence and incidence of road the precise objectives of the

accident? investigation and the study

content.
Each sub-problem is a complete researchable unit. Each sub-problem
should constitute a logical sub-component within the larger research goal.

Within the sub-problem, interpretation of the data must be

apparent.

Sub-problems must add to the totality of the research problem.

They should not exceed the coverage of the main problem.

There should not be too many sub-problems. If the problem is properly

stated, it will usually contain 2 to 6 sub-problems.
Carbon Reduction in Existing Buildings : A Trans-disciplinary
Approach

How can carbon dioxide emission levels be reduced

in existing buildings through a trans-disciplinary
approach?
Carbon Reduction in Existing Buildings : A
Trans-disciplinary Approach
How can carbon dioxide emission levels be reduced in existing
buildings through a trans-disciplinary approach?

1. What are the levels of carbon dioxide emission in existing

buildings?
2. What factors are these levels attributed to?
3. What measures are presently being undertaken to reduce
carbon emissions in existing buildings?
4. What have these measures resulted in?
5. How can these measures be complemented by trans-disciplinary
approaches?
1. What are the levels of carbon dioxide emission in existing
buildings?
To improve the understanding of how people actually use energy in
buildings
2. What factors are these carbon dioxide emission levels attributed to?
To formalize this understanding by way of models that describe the
current domestic and non-domestic building stock and the patterns of
energy use.
3. What measures are presently being undertaken to reduce carbon
emissions in existing buildings?
To document factors that have been tested in the past.
3. What have these measures resulted in?
To simplify the model through the elimination of some factors from the
equation.
5. How can these measures be complemented by trans-disciplinary
approaches?
To develop tools that will aid policy-makers in decision-making.
TITLE : How can the urban form of Eastwood City’s Urban Form, Safety and the
BPO Culture

MAIN PROBLEM: How can the urban form of Eastwood City be regulated to
address safety issues for call center agents?

SUB-PROBLEMS:

1. What constitutes Eastwood City’s urban form and how are they collectively
configured?

2. What are the BPO buildings and how are they spatially disposed in Eastwood
City?

3. What are the typologies of daily routine of call center agents?

4. How do these routines interface with the spaces in Eastwood City?

5. What are the indicators that activities are spatially accommodated?

1. What constitutes Eastwood City’s urban form and how are they collectively
configured?

To be able to map the urban form elements and analyse how they are
arranged relative to each other.

2. What are the BPO buildings and how are they spatially disposed in Eastwood City?

To understand how these buildings relate with the other functional spaces.

3. What are the typologies of daily routine of call center agents?

To analyse how the call center agents move around Eastwood City.

4. How do these routines interface with the spaces in Eastwood City?

To identify potential mismatches between activities and spaces.

5. What are the indicators that activities are spatially accommodated?

To understand difficulties arising from mismatches and thereafter propose

design interventions.
CLASS EXERCISE NO. 1
Formulate at least 5 sub-problems and corresponding objectives for these main
reseach problems.

Group 1-
How do plantscaping elements affect the walkability index of streets in a university
setting?

Group 2-
How does a studio classroom’s cooling system relate with absenteeism in UP
College of Architecture?

Group 3-
What are the safety issues for integrating solar farms with residential subdivision
developments?

Group 4-
Is there a positive correlation between level of billboard presence and incidence of
road accidents?
How do plantscaping elements affect the walkability index of streets in a
university setting?

1. What are the plantscaping elements that define Paths A to F in UP

Diliman and how are they spatially arranged?
2. What plantscaping typologies may be formulated based on no. 1?
3. What are the walking patterns of the students using Paths A to F?
4. What are the walkability indices of Paths A to F?
5. How do plantscaping typologies related with walkability indices?
How does a studio classroom’s cooling system relate with absenteeism in
UP College of Architecture?

1. What are the cooling systems used for studio classrooms in UPCA?
2. What are the activities held in these studio classrooms and what are
their spatial requirements?
3. What is the rate of absenteeism in these studio classes?
4. What is the average rate of absenteeism in different categories of
cooling systems in studio classrooms?
CLASS EXERCISE NO. 2

For your own proposed thesis project, formulate a main research problem and
extract a qualitative research component that you can develop into a full
proposal for this class.

1. What are the levels of carbon dioxide emission in existing buildings?

To improve the understanding of how people actually use energy in buildings
2. What factors are these carbon dioxide emission levels attributed to?
To formalize this understanding by way of models that describe the current
domestic and non-domestic building stock and the patterns of energy use.
3. What measures are presently being undertaken to reduce carbon emissions in existing
buildings?
To document factors that have been tested in the past.
4. What have these measures resulted in?
To simplify the model through the elimination of some factors from the equation.
5. How can these measures be complemented by trans-disciplinary approaches?
To develop tools that will aid policy-makers in decision-making.